Judge mulls release of Parkland shooter's confession

A Florida judge deferred a decision on the public release of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz's confession to police. File Photo via Broward County Sherif | License Photo

July 16 (UPI) -- A Florida judge on Monday deferred a decision on the release of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz's confession.

Broward County defense lawyers told Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer that portions of Cruz's video-recorded statement to homicide detectives shouldn't be made public, as they could unfairly sway jurors.

Scherer said she will give the defense 10 days to appeal if a public release is approved.

Under Florida law a defendant's confession to police can't be released to the public until it is made public at trial or after the case is resolved.

However, statements that aren't deemed the "substance of a confession" and don't incriminate the suspect can be released.

Special assistant public defender David Frankel said "98 percent of [Cruz's statement] is the defendant discussing" the process of planning the shooting, carrying out the act and escaping from the campus.

Frankel added the coverage of Cruz, who killed 17 students and faculty members at the Parkland, Fla., school Feb. 14, has exceeded that of serial killersTed Bundy, Aileen Wuornos and Daniel Rolling, all of whom were executed.